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Greetings to each and everyone of you.


This section for English-speaking viewers –
and all those enjoying the culture –

has developed over the months and is now offering materials of all kinds:

texts, images, poems, videos, etc.

It will continue to provide you with rich contents week after week.

 

28th Sunday of Year B – 2024

11 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: assess anew, detachment, estimages, eternal life, Mark 10:17-30, poor, possessions, real value, reappraise, riches, wealth

There are times when we feel we are no longer sure about certain things which we thought we knew well.
We suddenly become aware that we may need to take into consideration some factors and readjust our thinking.

It could be so regarding… wealth, riches, possessions…
It may be that we need to reappraise, to evaluate anew, to assess again, to revise the estimates we had made…
Today’s gospel text may lead us to do just that (Mark 10:17-30).

The scene presents us a man who comes to Jesus with a most important question:
he wants to know how to inherit eternal life – no less!
The text tells us:
“He had great wealth”.

But, as Jesus answers him, he tells him openly:
“One thing you lack…”

No matter how great his wealth, or how many possessions he has acquired, he is told, and he knows, deeply, that something is missing.
This mysterious ‘thing’ is… DETACHMENT… he is ‘possessed’ by his possessions!

Jesus’ invitation is to let go, to give to the poor something of his riches and, in this way, obtain “a treasure in heaven”.
Jesus calls him to reconsider what is truly of value, something enduring, everlasting.
None of the riches he owns will last eternally – they may be damaged, lost, stolen…
But to let go of what he has amassed and considers precious… he cannot do.

No wonder we are told that:
“The man’s face fell. He went away sad…”
Because he was not ready to follow Jesus’ way – the way that brings liberation.

We may feel that we resemble him in some ways.
We may also be like the apostles who were “amazed” at Jesus’ words.
The Jews of the time believe that riches were a sign of God’s favour.

Jesus makes it clear that God’s true blessings enable us to do what is impossible for us:
leaving behind what we hold as precious to follow Jesus’ way…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/28e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

International Day of the Girl Child – 11 October 2024

11 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Child marriage, climate, conflicts, crisis, Gender equality, girls, hope for the future, needs, poverty, sexual violence, vision

The 2024 International Day of the Girl theme is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’.

This year’s theme conveys both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.

Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises of climate, conflict, poverty and pushback on hard won gains for human rights and gender equality. Too many girls are still denied their rights, restricting their choices and limiting their futures.

Yet, recent analysis shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis, but hopeful for the future. Every day, they are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered.
But girls cannot realize this vision alone. They need allies who listen to and respond to their needs. 

With the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. And when girls lead, the impact is immediate and wide reaching: families, communities and economies are all stronger, our future brighter.

It is time to listen to girls, to invest in proven solutions that will accelerate progress towards a future in which every girl can fulfil her potential.

Did you know?

  • Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today.
  • Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.
  • Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.
  • Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.
  • Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.
  • Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Text & Image: https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day

World Day Against the Death Penalty – 24 October 2024-2025

10 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: abolitionist movement, conflict resolution, death penalty, human dignity, individuals, long-term solutions, marginalized groups, societies

Observed every 10 October, the World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global abolitionist movement and mobilizes civil society, political leaders, lawyers, public opinion and more to support the call for the universal abolition of capital punishment.

The day encourages and consolidates the political and general awareness of the worldwide movement against the death penalty.

On 10 October 2024 and 2025, the World Day will be dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer.

Security is commonly understood as freedom from danger or threat, but its interpretation varies considerably. It is a term rooted in political discourse and often used as a political tactic to influence public opinion and justify security policies. The determination of who are considered threats, and who are to be protected is often influenced by power dynamics, discrimination, and inequality. When applied to criminal justice, security offenses are in many cases broadly defined and can be open to abuse. Using the “security argument” at best politicizes a judicial procedure that is supposed to be impartial and fair, and at worst provides a context for human rights abuses in the name of State protection.

It is undeniable that the death penalty does not protect individuals and societies because it threatens human dignity and reinforces social and economic disparities by disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. To achieve effective long-term solutions, we must prioritize people’s concerns, tackle the root causes of crime and violence and apply a human security approach in conflict resolution and creating safer societies. Abolish the death penalty now!

 

Source: Text & Image: https://worldcoalition.org/campagne/22nd-world-day-against-the-death-penalty/

World Post Day – 9 October 2024

8 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: awareness, business, communication, empowering, nations, social and economic development

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) creation in 1874.

The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

As a result, the UPU’s member countries are encouraged to organize their own national activities to celebrate the event, including everything from the introduction or promotion of new postal products and services, to the organization of open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the UPU, the World Post Day theme for 2024 is: « 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations ».

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.upu.int/en/universal-postal-union/outreach-campaigns/world-post-day

27th Sunday of Year B – 2024

4 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: beloved brother, creed, Hebrews 2:9-11, recognize, relationship, same family, trust, understanding

There are some texts from the Bible which we know well –
we have heard, or read, some of Jesus’ parables many times and we are familiar with their message.
On the other hand, there are other texts that we do not recognize as easily.
Yet often, the message they offer us is striking and… more than a little encouraging!

This may be the case with the 2nd reading of today’s celebration (Hebrews 2:9-11).
The author of the epistle to the Hebrews says:

“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family”.

And he adds immediately the logical conclusion:
“So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters”.

If we pause a moment to realize what this means… it is quite astonishing!
It is, in a single sentence, the presentation of God’s incarnation – God has become a human being like us!
We are “of the same family”, indeed – God himself has chosen to be born of a woman of our race.

Every time we recite the Creed – which is, in fact, the summary of what we believe – we dare to say:
“I believe in Jesus Christ… conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”.

So, Jesus acknowledges us – all of us – as his “brothers and sisters”.
Do we realize what this involves?

The question arises: Do WE recognize him as… our brother, truly so?…
Do we have with him a close relationship?
Do we turn to him with the spontaneous trust that we have in a beloved brother?

We may need to adjust our understanding of… who God is and, as we do, we may become truly inspired!

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/27e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/hebrews-2-11-web.php

International Day of Older Persons – 1 October 2024

1 octobre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: challenges, diseases, health, healthy active persons, independent, life expectancy, needs opportunities

Ageing is a natural phenomenon. The process has not often resulted in healthy active older persons who are still independent. As countries addressed communicable diseases and improved health and living conditions, a global trend for increase in life expectancy can be seen.  Health services must be inclusive of the needs of older persons.  The International Day of Older Persons, is commemorated on 1 October each year, to raise public awareness about the opportunities and challenges with ageing populations and to mobilize the families, community groups and stakeholders to address the difficulties faced by older people.

This year’s theme,  ‘Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide’ encourages the governments, policy makers and social services across the world for a concerted and sustained action to address the physical, social, psychological and health needs of older persons. The commemoration also underscores the importance of promoting healthy living conditions for elderly that respect the dignity, beliefs, needs, and privacy of older persons, and for the right to make decisions about their care and quality of their lives.

 

Source: Text: https://www.who.int/srilanka/news/detail/01-10-2024-ageing-with-dignity    Image: https://www.WHO+world+day+older+persons+1+october

International Day of the deaf – 29 September 2024

29 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Abbe Charles Michel de L’Épée 18th cent., alphabet, attitudes, communication, culture, Gestuno, gestures, language, study

International day of the deaf. This day is celebrated worldwide on the initiative of the UN on the last Sunday of September, in honor of the establishment in 1951 of the International Federation of the deaf.

The beginning of the formation and development of societies deaf people in many countries has been made possible thanks to the meetings and associations of graduates of schools for the deaf.

The founder of facial communication method and a supporter of the language is considered to be the French of the Abbe Charles Michel de L’ÉPÉE, founded in the 18th century the world’s first Institute for the deaf in Paris. Since the beginning of the 19th century graduates of this institution, was built in the tradition of the birthday celebration de L’ÉPÉE. On the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of the great Frenchman, was invited many deaf people from different countries, and it became the first international meeting of the communities that initiated the contact.

On the planet about two and a half thousand tongues but there is one form of communication — language attitudes and gestures. In 50-ies of the world Federation of the deaf in order to maintain the international deaf events, we developed a special system of gestures, which he called Gestuno. In the first dictionary Gestuno, published in 1965, recorded 300 gestures, the third edition is already 1500.

Unlike Gestuno, the international language of gestures developed in a natural way, in the course of the study which noted the use of natural and iconic gestures, a large number of iterations, use drawings and labels, lexical and grammatical elements of national sign languages. Freer deaf and dumb man speaks the national language, the easier it is given to international communication.

A huge contribution to the development of sign language was made the General Secretary of the world Union of the Deaf Magicians, Simon Carmel. Carmel a long time exploring the life and culture of deaf people in different countries and is fluent in sign language. He is also the author of a book titled ‘international manual alphabet of the Deaf”, which describes 43 dactylic alphabet used in 59 countries around the world.

Source: Text & Image: Russian Events and Holidays

 

26th Sunday of Year B – 2024

27 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Categories, classes, God's generosity, God's gifts, God's Spirit, God's ways, grades, Isaiah 55:8, Number 11:25-29, ranks

God’s ways are… so often different from what we expect…
Different and puzzling… we are tempted to question them…
In fact… they question us!

The text of today’s 1st reading does precisely this (Number 11:25-29).
In the scene described, we see the Jewish leader, Moses, and we are told that, on him, God’s Spirit rests.
God then decides to share his Spirit also with 70 elders who start to prophesy.

Then, two more men who, even absent from the group, are also invested with God’s Spirit.
They, too, are given the gift of prophesy.

A young man wonders about this…
So does Joshua who has been Moses’ assistant from his youth.
How can this be?
Elders are usually recognized as wise people, but who are those two men, Eldad and Medad, who remained in the camp…?
How is it that they are also enjoying God’s special gift?

God does not limit his choice to people we think deserve his gifts.
Categories, grades, classes, ranks, parameters – these are all human inventions!
God does not restrict his blessings according to our concepts.
He does not conform himself to our judgements so limited and often prejudiced…

God is a God of abundant, immeasurable generosity who enjoys pouring his blessings on human beings.
And, let’s be honest: none of us deserves them!

Many years after Moses’ death, the prophets will tell the people of Israel about this God – their God.
Through one of them, Isaiah, God will say:

“My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8).

We must constantly remind ourselves of this…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/26e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/web/numbers-11-26-web.php

World Dream Day – 25 September

25 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: empower, highest potential, inspire, make positive changes, new realities, quality of the worle, take action

On this day, people around the world declare, share, celebrate and activate their dreams. Join in and make higher dreams for our world come true!

On World Dream Day, people all over the world are inspired to take action for their dreams. This day is a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make positive change in our lives and in the world. By coming together and declaring our dreams, we create a force of positive change that can empower us all to achieve our highest potential.

THE 2024 EXPERIENCE: World Dream Day 2024 will be a time of personal and collective inspiration and upliftment. Together, we will elevate our vision of what’s possible and collectively prepare ourselves to BE the change we want to see, then go out and MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN! 

Dreams are the foundation for new realities. The quality of our dreams for the future create the quality of the world we inevitably will live in.

What dreams for the future are essential to lead us towards a world that works for all?

For World Dream Day 2024, we invite individuals, businesses, and communities to create the foundation for a brighter future, by dreaming the change, then becoming the change we want to see.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://worlddreamday.org/celebrate2024/

World Pharmacists Day – 25 September

25 septembre 2024
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: diagnostic tests, educating patients, global needs, health advice, public health, research, vaccines

“Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs”

World Pharmacists Day, organized by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a WHO partner, is a day to recognize and celebrate the crucial role that pharmacists play in building healthier communities everywhere.

 Pharmacists are integral to our health-care systems, often being the first point of contact for health advice and primary health care, as well as addressing the health needs of our populations in many varied ways, including:

  • ensuring access to and providing guidance on essential medicines and medical devices, including diagnostic tests and assistive products;
  • providing expertise for patient care and public health;
  • promoting disease prevention, such as by administering vaccines, conducting health screening, educating patients, and helping to improve health literacy;
  • supporting public health campaigns;
  • participating in the research and development of new medicines;
  • leading in pharmacovigilance, for instance, ensuring the safety and efficacy of antibiotics and other medicines;
  • implementing greener ways of working and addressing the impacts of environmental factors on health;
  • advocating for policy changes that promote better health outcomes; and
  • as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists are at the forefront of addressing regional and global health crises.

 

Source: Text: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2024/09/25/default-calendar/world-pharmacists-day        Image: https://www.fip.org/world-pharmacists-day